The autonomous vehicle trial – conducted in partnership with self-driving software developer Oxbotica and Heathrow Airport – is designed to help IAG Cargo understand how such vehicles might work in an airside environment.

“We’ve previously trialled autonomous vehicles on public roads but this is the first test of how they could operate airside at an airport,” said Oxbotica CEO Dr Graeme Smith.

Oxbotica’s CargoPod at Heathrow airport (IMage courtesy of Oxbotica)

During the almost month-long trial, the Oxbotica-designed ‘CargoPod’ vehicle ran autonomously along a cargo route around the airport’s airside perimeter. IAG and Heathrow will use the 200km of trial data collected to assess possible ways to use autonomous vehicles in airports in future.

“Technology is evolving at an incredible pace. We are working with fantastic businesses like Oxbotica to develop new capabilities that will change the way airports function around the world,” said Lynne Embleton, CEO at IAG Cargo.

“The trial has yielded valuable insights and is another step in our ongoing commitment to embrace new technologies, improve processes and enhance our offering to our customers.”

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The inaugural Transport of Tomorrow conference will bring transport and mobility professionals together to get deep into the questions that matter for our contemporary transport systems, and find ways of working together to address them.

The MobilityTalks International® conference gathers government policy makers from around the world to exchange ideas on best practices related to the development and regulation of connected and autonomous vehicles.

What are the benefits of driverless cars? In the second part of this article, we explore how self-driving vehicles will protect other road users, help elderly and disabled people and benefit the environment.

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